Chap. 35.J 
CULTURE or THE YIM. 
511 
vine is old, take care and prune it as little as possible. In 
preference, bend the vine into the ground for layers, if neces- 
sary, and cut it at the end of two years. The proper time for 
cutting the young vine, is when it has gained sufficient 
strength. If the vineyard is bald of vines, then draw furrows 
between them, and plant quicksets there : but let no shadow 
be thrown on the furrows, and take care and dig them often. 
If the vineyard is old, sow ocinum^^ there, in case the trees are 
meagre : but take care and sow there nothing that bears seed. 
Put manure, chaff, and grape-husks about the roots, or, in- 
deed, anything of a similar nature that will give the tree ad- 
ditional strength. As soon as the vine begins to throw out 
leaves, set about clearing them. Fasten the young trees in 
more places than one, so that the stem may not break. As 
soon as it begins to run along the stay, fasten down the young 
branches lightly, and extend them, in order that they may gain 
the right position. When the grape begins to be mottled, 
then tie down the vine. The first season for grafting the vine 
is the spring, the other when the grape is in blossom ; the last 
period is the best. If it is your wish to transplant an old 
vine, you will only be able to do so in case it is no thicker than 
the arm : first, however, you must prune it, taking care not to 
have more than two buds upon the stem. Then dig it well up 
by the roots, being careful to trace them, and using every 
possible precaution not to injure them. Place it in the hole or 
furrow exactly in the position in which it has stood before, 
then cover it with earth, which should be well trodden down. 
You must then prop it up, fasten it, and turn it in the same 
direction as before ; after which, dig about it repeatedly." The 
ocinum that Cato here recommends to be sown in the vine- 
yards, is a fodder known by that name by the ancients ; it 
thrives in the shade remarkably well, and received its name^^ 
from the rapidity with which it grows. 
(23.) We come now to speak of the method of growing 
vines upon trees,^^ a mode that has been condemned^^ in the 
strongest terms by the Saserna's, both father and son, and up- 
^0 A sort of clover, probably. See B. xviii. c. 42, and a few lines 
below. 
From the Greek w/ctwc, quickly" — Yarro says. 
52 See c. 15 of this Book. 
'■^^ It is still practised in Dauphine and the department of the Basses 
Alpes. It is very prevalent, also, in the South of Italy. 
I 
